Footy is a game of rituals, for fans and players alike, whether it’s the routine of lining up for a set shot, wearing a pair of lucky undies to the game, avoiding the run through banner or saying three Hail Mary’s every time the gangly ruckman has the ball deep in defence. A ritual which [Read more]
The Roar of the Lion
May 24, 2012 by 10 Comments
By Shane Johnson, former football manager and player development manager with Brisbane 1992-2006 The merger of the Bears and the Fitzroy Lions was an emotional and interesting time. I remember going to a meeting of the players at the Fitzroy pub after the union had been consummated. There were many vacant faces. They looked [Read more]
Footy journalism gone to the dogs
May 24, 2012 by 24 Comments
By Simon Dobbie This is going to be a whinge. Maybe even a rant. I’m not entirely sure, but I think a rant is a whole level above a whinge. Yep, let’s call it a rant then. And the subject of my rant? Well, its footy journalism. AFL journalism to be precise. It’s a not [Read more]
Number 58: A premiership Bomber in Cats colours
May 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Number 58 – Sean Denham Recruited from Melton South, midfielder Sean Denham started out in senior company in number 58 in the last two home and away rounds of 1987. Col Hutchison, formerly the long-serving statistician at the AFL, found that Denham wore the highest guernsey number for Geelong at the top level, excluding replacement [Read more]
John Kingsmill’s Footy Diary: Round 9 preview
May 24, 2012 by 3 Comments
ROUND NINE – preview My wavering nerve In Adelaide’s rugged May, I’ve tipped the Crows to lose against Sydney, Geelong and Carlton. It’s been a successful ploy: I’ve lost my tips but we’ve won the games! That’s been small fish for such joy but I’ve become reluctant to change my bait. OK, this week I’m [Read more]
Crio’s racing: Early tips for Doomben
May 24, 2012 by 33 Comments
Someone’s going to have to provide “colour” for the Brissie Carnival. Remarkably, I’ve never made it to the races in Queensland, an omission that always strikes me at this time of the year as the “Winter Carnival” hits top gear with the running of the time-honoured Doomben 10,000.
Baulking the truth
May 23, 2012 by 1 Comment
There is no place for failure in football. I understand this. I’d make a terrible footballer, despite the fact I once kept Justin Murphy to 4.7 in an HDJFL game circa 1986….. However, I would like to know if the elite champion footballer ever hits a wall they can’t break through? Juddy, Browny, Hirdy, Buckley…you [Read more]
Number 57: The Battle of Britain
May 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Number 57 – Russell Mitchell Donning the rare number 57, mid-sized player Russell Mitchell was recruited from Geelong club Bell Post Hill and played two games for Geelong in 1985-1986. At the beginning of 1985, Mitchell was playing with Bell Post Hill and thought he would try out for Geelong at the end of the [Read more]
DA Puzzle of the Round (9)
May 23, 2012 by 2 Comments
Discover the world of David Astle here. But first, can you solve this week’s puzzle? As Leroy Jetta becomes the first player busted for staging, we look to other teams for prima donnas of repute. Greater Western Sydney, say, have Taylor (Amy) Adams and Callan (Rachel) Ward, while the Dees claim Troy (Judy) Davis, Jack [Read more]
Haiku Bob: nowhere left
May 23, 2012 by 9 Comments
autumn night Pendlebury shifts attention from the cold wind halves the moon a perfect pass intercepted misdirected kick the man-mountain brushed aside spring sun dusting the screen to watch Pendlebury leaves skip past Didak turns out of trouble Pendlebury gathers on the wing a leaf [Read more]
1980 A Personal Footy Almanac – Round 9, Saturday 24 May, v Melbourne, MCG
May 23, 2012 by 5 Comments
Last week’s epic victory over Carlton had all the electricity, tension, and dramatic emotional release that I imagine the connections of a winning Melbourne Cup horse would feel. Seven days on and back at the same venue, I wander casually into the cheer squad area, take my pick from rows of empty seats, sit back [Read more]
Throwing Rocks at Cats
May 23, 2012 by 11 Comments
I would like to call this speech “Throwing Rocks at Cats.” During the first launch of Tortured Tales I launched a few rocks at Carlton angry bitter hate filled missiles. It felt pretty good – but my therapist has since reminded me that this represents a kind of thinking called “negative regression” which is stopping [Read more]
Tin-arse Collingwood have the law on their side
May 22, 2012 by 42 Comments
Wednesday night and I’m at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. I love how Australian Irish Clubs, especially the Brisbane one, make you feel like you’re down the road from Bewley’s. I think it’s the crosses carved into the wooden staircases and the blokes in cardigans with soup stains on their ties. The drinkers all look [Read more]
I should have listened
May 22, 2012 by 15 Comments
The little voice in my head said, ‘Don’t do it. You might regret it’. The little voice always says this. As always, I ignored it. I went and declared North Melbourne had ‘arrived’ after defeating Geelong in round 3. And we were going to play finals in 2012, and we were going to shake things [Read more]
Lessons passed on from Dad through Football
May 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
“Just kick the bloody thing” my father and I screamed out in unison as Lewis Roberts-Thomson had ambition confused with ability as he tried to clear the ball from defence. When it comes to football I am clearly my father’s son. Last weekend I took my 6 week old son Jack to Wagga to meet [Read more]
Excuse me, but there’s this blip…..
May 22, 2012 by 2 Comments
After such a good win against Carlton last Monday night, Saints fans were not prepared for the Sunday afternoon drubbing at Paterson Stadium. Nor the very poor first two quarters. Nor the performance from the flying Eagles who whooped our arses. We liked the third quarter. We can watch the third quarter on the replays, [Read more]
Sanderson cries carpe diem
May 22, 2012 by 1 Comment
By Julian Morison I got to cats v crows last Saturday and was asked today (UNE footy tipping site) was I in ceteris paribus mindset at the game to which I replied: I certainly was. Because that fine equum, Black Caviar, was galloping nearby we had to arrive in the ante meridiem, for the early [Read more]
The Footygods: Nike
May 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Nike was the sister of Kratos, Bia and Zelus. Given that they personified strength, force and envy, they almost had a forward line between them. Nike made up for what they missed. With her wings and chariot she was known for her speed and the greeks just loved her. Saturday saw indigenous round come to [Read more]
The View from Shepparton – Round 8
May 22, 2012 by 1 Comment
On Friday night, which seems now to be several years ago, Collingwood defeated Geelong by two goals in an absolute belter of a game. I thought that both teams played well below the standards that they achieved last year in terms of misdirected passes and handballs but that Collingwood were by far the superior team [Read more]
The Giants’ barnstorming finish swells the heart of a footy novice
May 22, 2012 by 4 Comments
Sometimes the football gods are with you. Sometimes a chance, a whim, an accident turns into a day you’ll remember to the end of your days. Even when the omens, frankly, aren’t all that auspicious. I didn’t expect much from my first AFL game: years of arguing with Mr Harms and his friend, Radio National’s [Read more]
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